With an area of 1510 km² the Maasai Mara is not the largest conservation area in Kenya, but it is probably the most famous.

The entire area of the park is nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley that extends from the Red Sea to Southern Africa.

As the northern extension of the Serengeti plains, the Masai Mara eco-system sustains some of Africa's largest and most varied wildlife populations.

The word Mara means 'spotted' or “mottled” in the Masai language. Some say the Masai named it thus because of the patchy landscape - acacia trees and thorn thickets lend patches of colour to the otherwise uniform-looking plains.

The excellent weather is one of the highlights of the Masai Mara.

It's warm and mild without being scorchingly hot throughout the year, and hardly ever gets cold: ideal weather and climate for an African safari holidays.

Check the weather real time and see our webcam!

Since it is protected as a reserve and not as a national park (like Tsavo or Amboseli in Kenya), Masai Mara is designated the Masai Mara National Reserve. Masai Mara National Reserve is about 1500 km2.